Evaluation

• Principle of the categorical imperative and universalisability is simple and effective 


  Response: no more believable than DCT - both amount to non-natural guesswork (Kant's wishful thinking)
• Cuts out emotion in favour of reason - good thing for if we were swayed by emotion then we show favouritism which is immoral 


  Response: shows theory is unrealistic - emotions are part of what it means to be human
• Influential today - the modern emphasis on human rights, equality and justice system stems from him (humans have intrinsic value) 


  Response: justifies animal cruelty - Kant's view is completely anthropocentric (human-centred) that animals are non-rational and cannot be seen as members of the moral community
• Three postulates include two that are religious which makes little sense for those who are not religious 


  Response: can be used in a secular sense
• Does not make it clear what to do where there are conflicting moral duties e/g the axe murderer case -an 'evasive' truth seems unsatisfactory because even an evasion is a form of an untruth 


  Response: W.D Ross and prima facie duties